Author Archive: Ultimateplaces Photography

Ohio River Navigation Dam No. 50 Sign – Marion, Kentucky

February 13, 2025 0 Comments

Ohio River Navigation Dam No. 50 Sign - Marion, Kentucky

Signage from a defunct navigation dam (no. 50) located on the Ohio River, near Marion, Crittenden County, KY

The Ohio River Lock and Dam System is a critical infrastructure network designed to regulate water levels and facilitate navigation along the 981-mile-long Ohio River. Managed primarily by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the system consists of a series of locks and dams that maintain a consistent channel depth, allowing for the safe and efficient passage of commercial barges, recreational boats, and other vessels. Prior to modern improvements, the river was unpredictable, with natural shallows and seasonal variations making navigation difficult. The system, initially developed in the early 20th century, replaced outdated wooden wicket dams with more advanced high-lift structures that provide year-round navigability. Today, the system supports billions of dollars in commerce, primarily transporting coal, petroleum, steel, and agricultural products.

The lock and dam system works by creating a series of controlled pools along the river, allowing vessels to “lock through” from one water level to another. Each lock chamber is a large, enclosed space with gates at either end that open and close to let water in or out, raising or lowering boats as needed. Notable installations include the Markland Locks and Dam, McAlpine Locks and Dam, and Olmsted Locks and Dam, the latter being the most advanced and expensive project in the system. In addition to navigation, the system plays a key role in flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation, benefiting communities along the river. Continuous modernization efforts ensure the system remains efficient, as aging infrastructure and increasing traffic demand ongoing improvements.

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High Scaler Dam Worker Statue – Hoover Dam, Nevada

February 13, 2025 0 Comments

High Scaler Dam Worker Statue - Hoover Dam, Nevada

The construction of Hoover Dam, one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century, took place between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. Built on the Colorado River at the border of Nevada and Arizona, the dam was designed to provide flood control, irrigation water, and hydroelectric power for the growing southwestern United States. The U.S. government awarded the contract to Six Companies, Inc., a consortium of major construction firms. Thousands of workers flocked to the region in search of jobs, enduring the extreme desert climate. To divert the river, massive tunnels were blasted through the canyon walls, and workers poured more than 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete to form the dam. Despite tight deadlines, dangerous conditions, and engineering challenges, the project was completed two years ahead of schedule and formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935.

Conditions for workers were harsh, with temperatures often exceeding 120°F (49°C) in the summer, leading to heatstroke and exhaustion. Many laborers lived in primitive camps or in Boulder City, a government-planned town built to house workers. Safety measures were limited, and accidents were common—over 100 workers officially died due to falls, rockslides, and heat-related illnesses, though some estimates suggest the number was higher. Additionally, “powder monkeys” who handled explosives and “high scalers” who dangled from cliffs to remove loose rock faced extreme danger daily. Despite the difficulties, the project provided steady employment during the Depression and became a symbol of American resilience and industrial power. Today, Hoover Dam remains an essential source of water and electricity for millions in the Southwest.

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Bonneville Dam – Columbia River – Oregon

February 13, 2025 0 Comments

Bonneville Dam - Columbia River - Oregon

The history of dams on the Columbia River is deeply intertwined with political, environmental, and cultural struggles. Beginning in the early 20th century, dams such as Bonneville (1938) and Grand Coulee (1942) were constructed primarily for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and flood control, transforming the river into a powerhouse for the Pacific Northwest. However, these massive projects came with significant consequences, particularly for Indigenous tribes whose ancestral lands and fisheries were disrupted. The construction of dams blocked salmon migration routes, devastating traditional fishing grounds that had sustained tribes like the Yakama, Nez Perce, and Umatilla for centuries. Despite mitigation efforts such as hatcheries and fish ladders, wild salmon populations plummeted, sparking decades of controversy and legal battles over tribal fishing rights, conservation, and dam operations. Political conflicts emerged over balancing economic benefits—hydropower remains a key renewable energy source for the region—with environmental and cultural preservation. In recent years, growing calls to remove or modify certain dams, particularly on the lower Snake River (a major tributary), have intensified as climate change and conservation concerns amplify pressure on policymakers. The Columbia River’s dam network remains a symbol of both human ingenuity and the lasting tensions between development, ecology, and Indigenous sovereignty.

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